Democrats

(CNN)For two years Democrats have raged over Donald Trump's presidency, quarreled among themselves over the best strategy for responding to it, and above all, counted the days until next month's midterm election. The biggest political questions facing Democrats, needless to say, all remain to be decided on election night. But that doesn't mean the tempestuous 2018 campaign season hasn't already sent important signals -- both encouraging and ominous -- about the Democrats' future against a Republican Party that Trump is reshaping in his image. What follows is an attempt to identify some of the most important trends already evident on each side of that ledger for Democrats -- along with a few critical questions that remain very much to be decided. The most encouraging trends for Democrats in 2018: There's a suburban tsunami driving 2018 1. The white-collar suburban discontent with Trump is real and widespread. Read More The shift away from the GOP among white voters … [Read more...] about Here’s what should excite and depress Democrats so far in 2018

Washington (CNN)Rep. Denny Heck said Wednesday that recent indictments and sentencing memos show "the walls are closing in and this is the beginning of the end for the Trump administration." "In light of what happened today," the Washington state Democrat told Erin Burnett on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront," "in light of all the events of the last couple of weeks and all the sentencing memos that have been filed now -- 36 indictments, three prison terms and the like -- I'm prepared to say something I've never said: The writing's on the wall, the walls are closing in and this is the beginning of the end for the Trump administration." Heck, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between Russian operatives and Trump associates during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition is "getting closer and closer." Earlier Wednesday, President Donald Trump's former longtime attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, … [Read more...] about Democratic Rep. Heck: ‘This is the beginning of the end for the Trump administration’

(CNN)House Intelligence Committee member Eric Swalwell says, "Donald Trump is going to be defeated in 2020." "You have to wonder if he is capable of surviving all of these investigations and just the stress that continues to be on him," the California Democrat told David Axelrod on The Axe Files, a podcast from The University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN. Swalwell says he hates that he's lost a lot of friends across the aisle throughout the Trump era, but he "wouldn't do it any other way." "My hope is that there's going to be a day after Trump. I want to have a reset and go back to working with (Republicans). I'm going to actually try in this new Congress. ... That's not my default setting, to go at Republicans the way I go at Trump, but this guy, I just think, needs to be held accountable." As a member of the Intelligence Committee, Swalwell defends the continued Russia investigation, and not just because of any "palace intrigue into what's going on at the White … [Read more...] about House Intelligence Democrat Swalwell: ‘Donald Trump is going to be defeated in 2020’

(CNN)Paddy Ashdown, the former leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats and former United Nations high representative for Bosnia, died Saturday evening after struggling with a short illness, according to a tweet from the Liberal Democrats' verified Twitter account. He was 77. "This is a hugely sad day for the Liberal Democrats and for the very many people across political and public life who had immense affection and respect for Paddy," said Vince Cable, current leader of the party. "He took up unpopular causes where he was respected for his convictions, in particular promoting the rights of the citizens of Hong Kong, and -- later -- military intervention in Kosovo." British Prime Minister Theresa May said he served his nation with great distinction. "He dedicated his life to public service and he will be sorely missed," she said. "My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time." Ashdown served in the Royal Marines from 1959 until 1972. After he left … [Read more...] about Paddy Ashdown, former Bosnia high representative and UK Liberal Democrat leader, dies at 77

(CNN)The Democratic Republic of the Congo's election to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the country for nearly 18 years, has been delayed by a week to December 30, the country's electoral commission announced Thursday. Sunday's long-awaited vote, which has been postponed repeatedly since 2016, was again pushed back amid political turmoil and one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in history. Commissioners blamed a blaze that engulfed a warehouse housing electoral materials in the capital Kinshasa earlier this month, incinerating thousands of voting machines -- 80% of the city's stock. Corneille Nangaa, the head of the electoral commission, discusses the postponed elections. An opposition coalition that has objected to the use of voting machines called for an investigation into the fire. The coalition, led by presidential candidate by Martin Fayulu, alleges the machines could aid vote-rigging. Fayulu, a former Exxon executive, is one of two opposition … [Read more...] about Democratic Republic of the Congo postpones long-awaited presidential election